Installation art

(technique, 1970's-present)

Installation is one of the most popular and widespread forms of contemporary art. Some critics and artists say that Mike Kelley, an influential Los Angeles artist whose projects laid the groundwork for present-day installation art.

Installation art takes into account the viewers entire sensory experience, rather than floating framed points of focus on a neutral wall or displaying isolated objects (literally) on a pedestal. Installation art came to prominence in the 1970s but its roots can be identified in earlier artists such as Marcel Duchamp and his use of the readymade and Kurt Schwitters’ Merz art objects, rather than more traditional craft based sculpture.

The popularity installation art has been increasingly rising; this is due to the fact that artists nowadays have more avenues in expressing their thoughts and artistic ideas. Museums and art galleries have opened up its doors to cater such art form, much to the delight of artists and art enthusiasts.

Among the most famous museums that showcase installation art is the Exhibition Lab at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. A lot of galleries and studios have also showcased installation artsince its inception.

Installation art has gained wide popularity in 1970s but its inception as a modern or contemporary art can be traced from way back- thanks to the artists such as Marcel Duchamp and Kurt Schwitters.

Installation art can either be permanent or temporary. Most often, installation art requires a huge space to exhibit what story the artist wants to tell and can use any form of medium. The medium that artists use can be that of natural materials that can be found anywhere and even used on a daily basis.

Installation art is three-dimensional, so it is expected that there is a sense of reality when audiences see it. It can be perceived that every angle gives an image of a particular message the artist would want to convey. It also gives audiences that certain feeling like that they are in it or they are touching it. What makes this unique art form more interesting is the idea that compared to looking at paintings hanging on the wall; the installation art touches and tickles the senses of the audiences to think about the objects more deeply.

Of course, the experience of the viewer would vary depending on his vantage point and how he perceives the art. Take for example an installation art with huge pile of boxes; others can say that it forms a specific object while the others can see it as merely boxes. This entails that it is through perception which one can appreciate the art.

In the recent years, installation art has also evolved. When boxes and objects were most often used before, now, it has evolved using modern materials that mainly involved it light projections and sounds. In fact, some of the installation art that uses this kind of medium can be modified as well, depending on the liking of the audience. One of the most famous examples is the installation art done Maurizio Bolognini, 2005 at Genoa.

The digital installation art can be manipulated using a cellphone of the audience. This trend has taken the installation art scene in 1990s, making it more interactive for audiences to participate. In the more recent years however, more high-tech approach is used.

Although installation art are mostly done in closed spaces, there are instances where it is also exhibited in open or exterior areas. This type of installation is then called land art. The meaning of these two may overlap at times yet they are still both art and appreciated by many art enthusiasts.